Growing Great Kids By Kate Battistelli-My Review

When I first joined the CWA Review Crew, one of the first book titles that jumped out at me was this book by Kate Battistelli, called Growing Great Kids. The title indeed caught my eye at first, but it was the subtitle that made me sign up to review it, "Partnering with GOD to cultivate His purpose in your child's life". As a mother of six children ranging in age from 16 to 6 months I am always on the look out for great reads to help me be a better mom to my blessings! When the book finally arrived I was really excited to begin, until I shared it with a couple of friends. They were skeptical. "Growing Great Kids? How does this woman think she can write a book on growing great kids when she only had ONE daughter who just happens to be the one and only Dove Award-winning, Grammy-nominated recording artist, Francesca Battistelli?"

 Okay, those weren't their EXACT words but I knew what they were thinking. I was thinking it too...I've even been found saying this a time or two...
"Back when I only had ONE child I was certain that I was THE perfect parent! Thank the Lord my second son came along to put me in my place!"
Raising children is not easy, but raising only one child is A LOT easier. You have more time to devote to that one life. I have to share myself with seven other souls (including my husband). Well, if you are like me, thinking what does this Kate Battistelli have to teach me about growing great kids because she only had one child?, then you would be WRONG. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Kate Battistelli offers wonderful insight, humor, and inspiration to dream big dreams for each one of the children God has gifted us with. She explains, "Successful adults don't happen by accident. It takes wisdom to raise your children with a strong sense of their destiny in God and a deep knowledge of their gifts and callings".

 I really enjoyed how Kate wove stories of raising her daughter Francesca to become the amazing Christian singer she is today to share her points in growing great kids. She even shares some of the stories behind her daughter's songs that came from real life incidents where Francesca learned some life lessons. "Got a couple dents in my fender..." I was impressed how much Kate would press in and pray for specific things for her daughter, including for her daughter to win a Dove award and Grammy nominations. She covered her daughter in prayer! When Kate needs more support for her advice she relies heavily on quotes from friends who parented more than one child. This makes for a wonderful read as she reveals her own shortcomings and failures and becomes very vulnerable with the reader even as she encourages us to dig in deeper and do the hard task of raising up kids for God's kingdom. She quotes many scripture verses, but I loved this particularly, 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]."

My favorite chapters were "Gifts and Callings", "The Power of a Parent's Words", "Prayer, the Essential Ingredient", and "Common Parenting Traps". If you are looking for a wonderful parenting book to inspire you to be a better parent in order to grow great kids you need to own this book! Kate has written prayers at the end of each chapter to pray for our kids. They are, in my opinion, worth every penny of this book. She has inspired me to get a notebook and to begin praying BIG dreams for my own children, to be diligent in prayer, purposeful, specific, relentless, ever pursuing God's calling, seeking after God with all my heart for my kids! You can purchase your own copy over at Amazon or Barnes and Noble ISBN: 967-1-61638-654-2 | List Price: $14.99 | Format: Softcover | Page Count: 238

Here is Kate's interview talking about her book.

 Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.